St Paul's Newsletter: Thursday 13 May

2021 St Paul's Newsletter - Term 2, Week 4

From the Principal

Dear Families,

I hope all of our families, especially all “Wonderful Women” including our mothers,
grandmothers and special women in our lives, enjoyed a lovely day last Sunday. As a
school it was our pleasure to acknowledge all of the mums in our community last Friday
with the ever popular “Mother’s Day Breakfast".  Tameka Groen did a fantastic job coordinating the Mother's Day Breakfast, and we are very grateful to our helpers who arrived very early to school, set up, cooked, distributed and served with a smile - thank you all!!!

We also thank Sally Zylinski and our P&F for coordinating the Mother’s Day Stall, and
I also join Sally in thanking the helpers that were able to assist on the morning. The
teachers supported the Mother’s Day Stall and as always were flexible with their planning
and times on the day. The staff at this school always put the students first in everything
they do and we could see that last week. It meant a lot to the students that they could
purchase Mother’s Day Gifts and we are grateful for the hard work that made this
opportunity possible.

What if Everybody Did That?

Yard Duty is always a pleasure, particularly on a sunny day, and especially this term we have noticed how nicely the students are playing with one another.  One of the strengths of our school is our connectedness, and our students have been very good at looking after one another in the yard this term.

Of course, at times, the staff do need to assist the children with reminders about our rules.  This is only natural! A great strategy for reminding people as to why we have rules is to ask the question: What if Everybody Did That?  This question is from the title of a  story by Ellen Javernick, and I have used the story at our assemblies in the past. 

Sometimes we think that 'bending the rules' just a little bit is ok.  If we drop just one can of lemonade out the window, it’s no big deal … right?  If we go out of bounds on the school yard, just this once, that's ok ... If we park our car in a no parking zone for just 5 minutes that'll be fine ... But what if everybody did that? What if everybody bent the rules … and spoke during storytime, didn’t wash their dishes, or splashed too much at the pool? Then the world would be a mess! But what if everybody obeyed the rules so that the world would become a better place?

In my interactions with students around behaviour, after listening to them I often ask them, "OK, So ... What if everybody did that?"  I hope that it makes our students think about why we have a rule in place and learn from their choices.  After all, primary school children are definitely still learning about the world.  When we are tempted to bend the rules I encourage us to think about that question - What if everybody did that?  

Get Well Soon Mrs Curwood

Mrs Emma-lee Curwood is currently absent from school due to sustaining an injury while playing netball recently. Emma-lee has ruptured her achilles’ tendon and therefore needs a period of rest for the injury to heal. Emma-lee will return to school as of 14 June.  Cathie Vermeer will teach Year 2/3 from Monday-Thursday and on Friday Cathie will carry out her Maths Leading Teacher role. Isabella Lepore will teach Year 2/3 on the Fridays that Emma-lee is away. The Art program will continue on Wednesdays with Jacqui Stanley taking Art for the period of Emma-lee’s absence. On behalf of our community we wish Emma-lee a healthy recovery.

Emerald Barbecue

We held another successful Emerald Barbecue last Saturday.  We are grateful to Megan Bourke who has volunteered to coordinate the Emerald Barbecues this year.  We thank the following families for volunteering their time last Saturday:  Rubio, Lewis, Coffey, Doherty and Marmion.

NAPLAN

Throughout this week our Year 3 and Year 5 students sat NAPLAN - National Assessment Program Literacy And Numeracy.  

NAPLAN tests are one-off, one-day tests and should be considered as part of a bigger picture.  NAPLAN is an important test that helps us measure literacy and numeracy, but it does not assess what makes people special and unique.  We value the results of NAPLAN as a school and we want the children to do well, but  NAPLAN does not know that some children love to sing, are good at drawing or can teach others how to use a computer.  It does not measure work ethic, or ability to work in a team.  NAPLAN does not know when a child’s classmates can count on them, or when the child looks after their mum and dad or their little brother and sister.  NAPLAN does not measure how caring or thoughtful your child is, it does not measure our people skills.  Successful children are resilient, they show persistence and grit, and these are attributes that are difficult to measure.  

I wish to congratulate all of our students on their efforts at school each and every day.  I wish to acknowledge the way our teachers conducted the NAPLAN tests so professionally this week.   Particularly I congratulate every Year 3 and Year 5 student on their efforts in NAPLAN.

With Sympathy

Our condolences go to Ray and Rachel Coffey and family on the passing of Ray’s father at the weekend. Grandfather of Clodagh (Year 3) and Niamh (Year 1). Our thoughts and prayers are with you at this sad time.

Welcome to God's Family

Congratulations to both Zachary (Year 4) and Sebastian (Year 3) who were welcomed into God’s family last weekend through the Sacrament of Baptism. We pray that Zach and Sebastian be filled with the grace of the Holy Spirit and that they grow in the knowledge of Christ’s love.

SCHOOL CLOSURE DAY - Friday 28 May

No students are to attend school on Friday 28 May.  The staff will engage in Education in Faith Professional Learning for the duration of the day at the Mary MacKillop Heritage Centre in East Melbourne.  There will be no staff on the school site.

Advanced Notice - Early Finish Thursday 24 June

We will hold our 3 Way Conferences (previously referred to as Semester 1 Parent-Teacher Interviews) on Thursday 27 June.  School will conclude at 1:00pm on Thursday 24 June for students. Conferences run for 10 minutes.  Students from Year 3-6 are requested to attend the 3 Way Conference.  3 Way conferences will be held in classrooms.

WATER SAFETY EDUCATION - Monbulk Aquatic Centre

At St Paul's we do not engage in 2 week intensive swimming programs for a number of reasons however, we do cover the mandated curriculum around water safety.  For several years we have organised practical water safety education programs in conjunction with Life Saving Victoria.  This program is known as the "Open Water Learning Experience" and we have conducted the one day program at both Lysterfield Lake and Aspendale Beach.

In 2021 we are trying a different company and location.  This year our practical water safety education will be lead by the staff at the Monbulk Aquatic Centre.  All students will experience one day of swimming and water safety in the pool at the Monbulk Aquatic Centre.  The outline of the day is as follows (subject to change!):

• Approximately 10:00am - depart school
• 10:30am - enter water
• 12:30pm - lunch break
• 1:15pm - water fun!
• 2:15pm - exit water, dry off, change and return to school by 3:00pm

The program can accommodate a maximum of 60 students per day and therefore the school will be split into two groups on two separate days:

• Years 3-6: Friday 18 June
• Years Prep-2: Friday 25 June

Parent helpers will be welcome and we will send consent forms via Operoo in the coming weeks.

Kind regards,

Michael Watt

From the School Office

2021 School Closure Days

P&F News

OSHClub

Out of School Hours Care: OSH Club

Enrolments, Bookings and Enquiries

Parents will need to enrol with OSHClub.  Please visit https://www.oshclub.com.au/ and click on "REGISTER".  You will need to enrol with the Monbulk Primary School service.

Community Notices

Transition Information

To assist your decision making in relation to your child's education for 2022 and beyond, please find below a link to the 136 page March 2021 edition of the Catholic Education Guide.

CLICK HERE: https://victoriaschoolguides.starcommunity.com.au/catholic-education/

Mater Christi College – Belgrave

Mater Christi College is a vibrant, inclusive and warm community where girls feel safe and build supportive lifelong friendships. After another year of leading academic and vocational outcomes, we are experiencing a surge in demand for places.

Parents of Grade 5 students are strongly encouraged to secure a place for Year 7 2023. Visit the College website to apply or arrange a tour.

Families seeking enrolment for 2022 should contact the College Registrar 9754 6611 asap.